The Royals have signed first baseman Lucas Duda to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, according to FanRag reporter Jon Heyman. The 32-year old left-handed hitter is likely the favorite to start at first base for the Royals, who had Hunter Dozier, Ryan O’Hearn, and Frank Schwindel contending for playing time there.
Duda is best-known to Royals fans as the Mets first baseman whose wild throw in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series allowed Eric Hosmer to score on an infield grounder. Duda is not considered to have a good glove, but has very good power, smacking 30 home runs last season.